Nation employees see bright future after land ruling

Wednesday

May 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMMay 28, 2008 at 5:00 PM

While local and state officials are considering options to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior over last week’s decision to place 13,004 acres of Oneida Indian Nation land into trust, Nation employees are still rejoicing.

Jennifer Fusco

While local and state officials are considering options to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior over last week’s decision to place 13,004 acres of Oneida Indian Nation land into trust, Nation employees are still rejoicing.

For some, the May 20 decision was followed by hugs and kisses for loved ones. For others, it was the comfort of knowing that future Oneida generations will finally have what the Nation has wanted for so long.

The O-D recently interviewed Oneida members and employees about what they call a life-changing decision. Here is what they had to say:

Relief for everybody

Durhamville resident Paula Eddy, 50, is the multi-games manager at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, where she has worked for about 17 years.

She started with the Nation at the old Bingo Hall, and has seen the resort go through transformations since day one. Last week’s decision gives her job and her life new meaning, she said.

“I can keep my job along with 5,000 other people,” she said. “If I didn’t have my job, I’d have to move out of the area and leave my family behind.”

When the federal government gave a recommendation three months ago to put 13,004 acres of Nation land into trust, Nation members hoped the final decision would reflect that. But those three months were agonizing for Eddy, she said.

“I was on pins and needles about whether I’m going to have a job,” she said. “I was very careful with my spending.”

Most of that worrying was washed away May 20 when Eddy and her colleagues were watching the news in the cafeteria, she said.

“A news flash came across the TV. We all cheered and clapped,” she said.

“Everybody was high-fiving in the hallways. It gives me cold chills to even talk about it now.”

As a Nation member, Eddy said the decision allows the Oneidas to keep their culture and heritage in their own area.

“It enables us to have our close little knit community here, and still have our language and ceremonies,” she said. “This was just a big, huge relief for everybody.”

Sleep easier at night

Jennifer DiGiorgio, 30, of Oneida Castle, is the executive pastry chef for the Turning Stone. Her husband, Michel DiGiorgio, is the executive chef for the resort. The couple met at the resort and eventually got married there. Jennifer DiGiorgio has been working for the resort for 10 years, and her husband for about 12.

For the DiGiorgios, the May 20 decision was a breath of fresh air.

“I am so happy right now because I can seriously sleep easier at night knowing my job is safe and my livelihood is safe,” she said. “If we didn’t have these jobs, we wouldn’t have been able to stay here.”

Jennifer DiGiorgio had been sitting at her computer the day of the decision when she got an e-mail from Nation Representative and Chief Executive Officer Raymond Halbritter.

“I think ‘relief’ is probably one of the biggest words I could say,” she said. “And (the) continued appreciation of who I work for and the philosophy that the Nation has.”

Long time coming

Oneida resident Kandice Watson, 42, is an Oneida member and the Nation’s cultural and education outreach director. Part of Watson’s job as outreach director for the Nation is to carry out songs and traditions of the Oneidas.

When Watson heard about the decision, she and her partner basked in the moment.
“My boyfriend and I hugged each other and kissed,” she said. “This was something people who are not Oneida probably will just never understand.”

As an employee, the decision came as welcome news because it ensures Oneida employees will be able to keep their jobs, she said.

“I’ve never really worked for anyone else besides the Oneidas, so for me, it secures my job here,” she said.

The feeling of knowing the Nation now has about 13,000 acres to call its own is something Watson said she didn’t think was possible in her lifetime.

“We’re just thinking of our ancestors that were not able to see this decision,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

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